Armature winding machine



Dec.l23, 1952' n. I .APRoBsT 2,622,715'

ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOREY Dec. 23, 1952 R. L. PRoBsT 622,715

ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Fi'led Oct. 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RoaEn-r L. PRoasT ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1952 R, L. PRoBsT 2,622,715 u: ,i

ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Filed oct. 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ROBERT L. PRoBsT ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1952 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE l Robert L. Probst, Aflton, Mo.

Application ctober 21, 1948, Serial No. 55,677

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to armature winding machines, and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements therein.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an armature winding machine provided with a unique mechanism by operation of which a predetermined number of turns of the armature to be wound may be automatically effected.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an armature winding machine having a transmission which is automatically disconnected upon the completion of a pre-selected number of revolutions of the armature to be wound.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an armature winding machine provided With adjustable tension means for securely maintaining the armature in position during operation of the machine.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (three sheets) Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an armature Winding machine constructed in accordance 'with and embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the armature winding machine; I

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 3 3 and 4-4 respectively of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 6--6, '1 -1, and 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the setting mechanism;

I,Figures 10, 11, l2 and 13 are fragmentary sectional views all taken along line IIl-III of Figure 4 and respectively showingk the transmission mechanism in its several different positions of operation.

Referring now in more detail, and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates an armature winding machine supported upon a tableY I having secured thereon, at one end, a conventional prime mover 2 and, adjacent thereto, a housing 3 for a counter mechanism C. Said housing 3 is divided by a transversely extending Wall 4 into forward and rear compartments, a. b, respectively (forward having reference to the right end of the table I as shown in Figure 2).

The output shaft 5 of the prime mover 2 is provided at its end with a clutch-forming driving member 6 which is disposed within the compartment b of the housing 3 and a reduced portion 'I journalled suitably Within the rear wall 8 ofthe housing 3. Disposed for optional engagement with the member 6 is a clutch-forming driven member 9 keyed upon one end of a shaft I0 journalled Within the wall 4 by a ball bearing I I, the driven member 9 being integrally provided with an actuating spool I2 comprising spaced collars -I3, I3'. Forwardly of the wall 4, the shaft I0 has keyed thereon a worm gear I4 for meshing engagement with a spur gear I5 keyed or otherwise rigidly mounted on a shaft I6 disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft I0.

The shaft I6 extends between and is journalled in the upstanding legs I'l, I8 of a cradle or U- shaped bracket member I9 disposed within the compartment a. The leg I1 is pivotally supported by integral, aligned, projecting pins 20, 20 extending into suitable aligned apertures 2|, 2| in opposite walls of the compartment a, and is further provided with a ball bearing 22 for supporting the shaft IB. The leg I8 of the cradle I9 extends partially through a relatively large, elongated aperture 23' provided inv the front wall of the housing 3. At its outer end-the shaft I6 projects beyond the leg I8 and is diametrally increased in the provision of an integral dial member 24 extending marginally beyond the forward and rear faces of the leg I8. On its outwardly presented face the dial member 24 is provided with a series of uniformly spaced apertures e. One of such apertures e is labeled or marked with a numeral zero and the other apertures e are similarly marked with numerals l, 2, "3 and so on in successive numerical order. The shaft I6 is diametrally reduced at its outer end in the formation of a tongue-like projection 24' having disposed thereon a freely rotatable knob 25 including a dial member 26 held in surface abutment against the outer vface of the dial member 24 by means of a spring 2t' encircling the projection 24 of the shaft I6 land endwise abutting against a shoulder 21 provided inwardly of a shank portion 28 of Athe knob 25 and against the inner face of an end stop 29 secured to the outer margins of the projection 24' by means ofa screw 30.

'I he d ial member 26 is provided with a single window-like aperture 9, and is further provided adjacent its outer periphery with a pin 3| which `engaging the gears I4 and I5.

projects inwardly parallel to the shaft I5. The pin 3I is of substantially the same diameter, and is located at the same radial distance from the center line of the shaft I3, as the aperture e so as to fit snugly into and project through any selected one of them for stop-forming abutment along its inwardly projecting end against the -forwardly presented lateral face of the cradle leg IS. In this connection it should be noted that the vpin 3I- is oi such length that it will be fully withdrawn from engagement with the selected aperture e when the knob E5 is manually pulled outwardly to the limit of its movement along the shaft I6 against the pressure of the spring 26 thereby permitting the knob 5 and its associated dial member 26 to be rotated freely with respect to the dial member 2d, and permit the pin 3l to be aligned with and inserted into any selected aperture c. When the pin 3! Vis engaged in any selected aperture e the numeral associated with such aperture c will be visible through the window-like aperture g'of the dial member 25.

The cradle I9 is provided with a handle 32 extending outwardlyT from the lower portion of the leg I8 through the aperture 23. By `manual operation the cradle I9 Vmay be optionally rocked downwardly (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4) carrying the shaft I6 therewith and thus dis- When the cradle I9 has 'been rocked into its upper or engaged position, it is maintained therein, during operation ofthe machine A, by a `detent plunger 33 biased outwardly by a spring 34, into a detentrecess 34 formed in the rear face of the leg I8.

Formed integrally with the forward wall of the housing 3 is a hollow boss 35 opening at its lower end upon the uppertransverse margin of the aperture23 and having disposed therein a spiral spring 36 in endwise abutment against the upper end-face of the leg I8 for Vbiasing `the cradle I3 downwardly into disengaged position when the detent plunger 33 is released, as will presently be more fully described. Mountedencirclingly on and secured at its inner end to the shaft lbe- -tween the gear I5 and leg I3 is aspiral` spring 3l, and between the gear VI5 and leg Ilv there is keyed on the shaft I6 a disk or cam member 38 provided in its periphery with a recess 39 for engagement with the inner end or tongue cfa rearwardly extendingplunger-like rod 4I extending through j'a-cylinder-like guide 42 integralwith the wallv 4. vAdjacent the tongue 4G, the rod 4I isprovided with a plunger-like head 43 sized f or sliding engagement along the walls of the guide 42. Disposed within the cylinder-like guide ll2 is a `spiral spring 44 encircling the rod 4I and in 'endwise abutment `against the inner face of the -plunger-like head'43 andthe end-face of the `guide 42.

At its projected or rearwardd end the rod 4I is secured by a pin 45 to a relatively short connecting link 46, which, in turn, is connected ing 3. The rod 5 3 is provided on its outer end with cap member 52 diametrally larger than the rod for limiting inward movement thereof.

Formed integrally with the 'rod' 50- adjacent its forward end is an L-shaped member 53 having an upstanding inverted yoke 54 for engagement between the collars I3, I3 of the driven memfber 9. Encircling the rod 5I)y in endwise4 abutment against the L-shaped member 53 and inner face of the guide 5I is a spiral spring 55. Integral with the link 48 is an upstanding lever arm 56 projecting through a suitable aperture in the upper wall of the housing 3 and being provided on its projected end with a handle 56'.

The ratio between the worm I4 and the worm gear I5 is such that the shaft I6 and its associated dial members 2e, 26 will be rotated through the arcuate distance between the centers of two adjacentapertures e orone unitI as it may be called for each'revolutio'n'of theshaft lil. Furthermore, the cam 38 is pinned to the shaft `I6 in such position relative to the dial 26, that when the pin 3| is inserted into the zero aperture and allowed to come to rest stop-wise against the lateralface of the cradle-leg I8, the recess 39 ofthe cam 38 will be in zero position opposite the tongue `4i). If it is desired, for example to set the armature winding machine A for a three turn winding, the knob 25 is pulled outwardly and the dial members 24, 26 manually rotated lclutch members 6, 9 are engagedy and the shaft IG makes three complete revolutions the cam recess 33 will have moved opposite the tongue 40, and the latter will move therento causing `the links d6, 48, the rod 59, and the yoke 54 to shift under influence of the springs 44, -and the driven clutch member 9 will be disengagedV from the driving clutch member 6.

Between the tongue 4 and plunger-like head t3 on the rod 4I there is'mounted a collar 51 having integral therewith a depending pin 58 disposed'between the opposed legs 59, 59 of the bifurcated end of an angular lever arm 60 pivotally mounted, approximately intermediate its length, on a lug 6I integral with and projecting from the wall 4. Adjacent its otherend, the arm 60 is secured to a relatively short T-shaped member 62 about the leg of which the spring 34 is disposed.

Rigidly mounted on the projected portion of the shaft IEI, adjacent the housing 3, is a hand wheelY 63, provided as an auxiliary manual means for rotating the shaft I6. Also rigidly mounted on the shaft IIJ adjacent to, and projecting beyond the free end thereof, is a jaw-forming member 6A having a'concave face 65 `providedwith -a radially projecting axial tongue 65 for positiondetermining engagement in the slots of an armature R `when mounted in the jaw member 64 for winding operation. Mountedon the sidev faces of the jaw member 64, adjacent to the forward margins thereof, larcguide wings 66 for'directingfthe wire w from`spools s into the particular armature slots presented for winding.

Shiftably mounted in a bearing 61 secured' at Athe forward end of the table I is a slide rod 68 axially bored for rotatably supporting a stubshaft` @9 which projects axially outwardly from the rod 63 and is rigidly provided at its end with a jaw-forming V-block 'HI adapted for co-operation with the jaw member 64, being normally urged outwardly by'a spiral spring 1I mounted encirclingly about the projecting end of the stubshaft 69 in endwise abutment between the V-block 16 and the end'face ofthe -rod 68. The

rod 68 extends throughthe bearing 61 .andat its other end is provided with a link 12 pivotally secured. by a pin 13 which projects upwardlyfor retentive engagement with one end of a togglespring 14, the other end of which is engaged by a pin 15 secured in a slide-block 16. The link 12 is pivotally connected at its forward end to a toggle link 11, which is, in turn, pivoted upon the slide block 16 rearwardly of the lpin 15. Formed preferably integrally with, and projecting laterally from, the toggle link 11, is an voperating handle member 18, and the toggle link 11 is finally provided with a shoulder 19 for stopwise abutment against a stop pin 80 fixed in the bearing 61. The stop pin 88 is located so that the toggle link 11 will be held releasablylocked thereagainst by the toggle action of the spring 14, as may best be seen in Figure l.

The slide block 16 is provided on its under face with an under-cut slide 8.I for movement within a complementarily designed slide `way '82 provided in the upper face of an extension arm 83 of the bearing 61. The end face of the slide block 16 is provided with an internally threaded aperture for receiving the end of an adjustment screw 84 threadedly mounted in and extending through a flange 85 on the end of the arm 83. A handle 86 is provided on the extended portion of the screw 84.

In use the operator will swing the handle 18 outwardly toward himself and thence to the right drawing the shoulder 19 of the toggle link 11 :away from the stop pin 88 and as soon as the link 12 and the toggle link 11 have traveled to the forward side of dead-center, the toggle spring 14 will contract and the slide rod 68 together with the rjaw-forming V-block supported thereby, will be shifted to the right, away from the jaw member 84 an armature R may then be placed within the jaw member 64 so that one of its slots engages the tongue 65 and thereupon the handle member 18 may be shifted to original position, moving the jaw-forming V-block 16 vtoward the jaw member 64 for holding the armature R firmly in place. The handle 86 may then bev turned to urge the slide block 16 lforwardly increasing the tension of the toggle spring 14 and preventing any unauthorized releasing movement of the handle 18.

The armature R will be held in such position that two diametrally opposite slots lie in a verticalV plane directly in line with the wire guiding wings 66. The wires w are then vmanually pulled -downwardly from the spools s and xed in place on the armature core in the conventional manner.

The knob 25 is then pulled outwardly compressing the spring 26' and is then revolved so that the number on the face of the dial member 24 corresponding to the number of vturns desired to be made about the armature R appears through the window-like aperture g in the dial face 26, the knob 25 is then released for movement inwardly into the surface abutment against the dial member 24, whereupon the pin 3I will .extend through the selected aperture e in the dial member 24. By this setting procedure the shaft I'6 is rotated putting a tension on the spring 31 and positioning the cam member 38 so that the recess 39 is `withdrawn from alignment with the tongue 48 of the rod section 4I a distance commensurate with the number of turns xdesired. It is, of course, apparent, that, if necessary, prior to such rotation of the shaft I6, the

handle 56' is pulled rearwardly so as to withdraw the tongue 40 of the rod section 4I from the recess .39, .as may .best be seen in Figure.1,3. so that the cam member 38 may be moved. Upon effecting the desired setting, the tongue 46 abuts against the peripheralface of the cam member 38 as may best be seen in Figure 10. The handle 56' is then pulled forwardly straighteningthe links 46, 48, and `causing the rod section 5|)..to slide rearwardly in the guide 5I as abutment of the tongue 46 against the cam4 member 38 prevents forward movement. Thereupon the L-shaped member 53 is moved rearwardly causing the yoke 54 to abut against the inner face of the .collar I3 whereby the clutch forming driven member 9 engages the clutch-forming driving .member 6 as may best be seen in Figure 11. The shaft I0 is thus rotated whereby the worm gear I4 drivingly meshes with the spur gear I5, rotating the shaft I6 with the cam-member 38 thereon. As the recess 39 rotates into alignment with the tongue 40 of the rod section 4I, theend 40 snaps, as it were, into the recess 39 preventing further rotation of the shaft I6, as may best. be seen in Figure l2. Thereon the rod 50 slides forwardly, causing the yoke. 54 in co-operation with the collar I3 to shift the clutch-forming driven member S out on engagement with the member 6 thereby `arresting rotation of the shaft l0. The number of turns of wire .w desired for the armature R willthenghave been eifected.

When the tongue 46 of the rod section 4I springs into the recess 39 at .the completion of the operation, the pin 58 is carried forwardly and into abutment against the leg I8 of the bifurcated-end of the arm 68 whereby the arm 60 is pivoted and the outer end thereof is rocked rearwardly releasing the detent plunger 33 from the notch 34.

Since the tongue 48 is still engaged in the recess 39, however, the cradle I9 will remain substantially in upwardly` swung .or engaged 'position but there is sufficient play between the tongue 46 and the cam-recess 39 to permit the cradle I9 .to drop a short distance sufficient to displace the` detent notch 34 downwardly from the detent plunger 33 under influence of the spring 36. i L

By withdrawing the jaw-forming V-block 10 as described above, the armature R may be, man- 'ually turned in order to present another'pairof slots in alignment with the wings 66 for winding operation. After the armature R has been thus reset, the handle 56 is swung rearwardly, and since the spring 55 is substantially stronger than the spring 44 the links 46, 48 will break upwardly, rso to speak, as shown in Figure 13 and the tongue 40 will be withdrawn from the recess 39of the cam 38 allowing the cradle I9 to drop all the way :down to its lowermost position. It should be noted in this connection that the retractive movement of the tongue 48 will swing the arm 68' back to original position restoring spring bias upon the detent plunger 33 but since the detent notch 34 Ahas already been shifted down out of .alignment therewith by reason of the initial movement of the cradle I9, the detent plunger 33 will not interfere with the downward dropping movement of the cradle I9.

As thev cradle I9 drops down the worm gear I5 will become disengaged from the worm I4 and the shaft I5 being thus released will rotatereversely under influence of the spiral spring 31 until the stop pin 3| abuts against the stopforming side facev of the cradle-leg `I8 returning l lThenext windingcyc'lemay be initiated by :lifting'the 'handle'k 32 and thereby swinging the "cradle IS--upwardlylagain to engaged?l position,

fwhereuponfthedetent plunger 33 will f re-engage -thef-de'tentnotch 34 holding the cradlein such "-f-erligag'eti?A position Lagainst the downward bias of vspring-36. f Meanwhile ythestongue will ride against' theperiphery of the cam 38 andV the iminger-#like rod 4 I f willl beI held.- in disengaged A'.positionagainst 4thebias of the spring 44. When -the'fcradle I9 is lifted into engaged position, the

"vermi-gear 115 and vthe worm I4 are thus refegaged. "f Because there may bea slight amount "ofover-travelof the shaft l and handwheel 63 lthe Iwormgeai' I51andf'worm I4 maynotbe exactlyI aligned for meshing engagement, Ain lwhich rcasethev'operator merely rotates the hand wheel 'Suntil aportion ofvalignment is reached. In "facththistlatter4 manual operation is ldesirable Ato 'permit the operator to start each seriesV of turns 'from a selected initial position on thearmature. Thereupon the handle '56"'may be shifted forwardly as above described and the driven member r-9'-""coi`1pledfto the driving member 6 so that the shaft I 0 Iwillresume rotation.

lsubstituted for those herein shown and described Ywithout departing from the nature and principle 4off-xnyinvention.

I 'Havingfthus described my invention,l what I claimand desire to secure vby Letters Patent is: 1.''For-use"with armature winding machines and the like, a turn-counting transmission 'com- 'prising a! driving shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch optionally connecting the driven shaft to the drivingf shaft, acountershaft driven `in timed relation to the driven shaft, a vwheel pinned to the fcountershaft and 'having a're'cess formed in =the periphery thereof, v a first rod "shiftably mounted adjacent to said wheeland spring biased for engagement "in said recess when thefwheelis rotated to a selected position, a second rod slid- @ably n'iounted Yin i axial alignment withy 'therst r'odpapair of' pivotally` connected toggle -links AoperablyV connected to the opposedfends Y'offthe r'st'and second rod, `means rigidly connected to thesecond rod for disengaging said clutch `when -the secondrodvis shifted, handle means rigidly connected to oneof said toggle'links-ior-permitting rsaid links to be manually actuated `froxna ypositionof `axial alignment with `said rst-and secondjrods to I-aposition respectively at angles `to-ithe longitudinal axes of said rst and second rodsiwhereby the iirst link may be disengaged from the recess of the wheel independently of ymovement of the second rod andthe secc'nd 'rod may be shifted to reengage 'theicltcnwithout vimparting longitudinalA shifting 'movement tothe lr'st rod.

'-2, For' use Awith armature 'winding machines andthe like, a turnecounting' transmission' coin- 'prising .a` driving shaft, a' driven shaft; a` clutch optionally 'connecting'the drivenshat to the driving shaft, a countershaft'driven'in timed Vrelation to the driven shaft,` a wheel'pinned to the Ac'ountershaft and having a'recess formed in the 'periphery thereof, a springbiased rod shifta'bly mounted adjacent to-said'wheel for engagement insaid' recesswhen the` `wheelis.' rotated lto `a selected position, asecond' rodi'slidably mounted in axial `alignment with the first` rod,` a.A pair. ci pivotally connected i toggle linksl operably1 coninectedto the opposed ends ofthe first aridsec'ond rod; means rigidly'connected -tc' the 'second rod iordisengaging said clutch when the secondrod isfshifted axially fin theY direction'of'theY wheel,

handlev "imeans rigidlyconnected tov one offsa'id togg-lelinks for permitting said links tofbeer'nan- Vuallyiactuated froma Vposition of axial alignment with-- said 'first and second 'rods to a'. position respectivelyf at angles 'to i the longitudinalf'axs of saidv first and second rods whereby `the-iirstilir'ik may; be disengaged from the recess of thefwheel independently ofl movement of the second rod-and fthe? seeond '-rod may be shifted to' reengage-t the (Hutch "Ywthollt imparting longitudinal HShifing "movement to the`fiist rod.

3. For use wi-'th yarmature wiridingi-ma'ohines land the like, a turn-'counting'transmissioncoinprisingfadriving shaft,l adrivensh'aft; al clutch optionally"connectingV the `driven shaft to t the driving shaft, acountershait driven`` in tirii'ed "relation to 'the drivenis'haft, a"wheel'pinned to thef cmintershalt` "and `having a recess' formedfin the secondrod for disengaging Asaid clutch `when the second rod is shifted axially 'in thedirection of the wheeL'handle meansrigidly'connectedto one of said toggle links for' permittingsaidV flinks to beimanu'allyfy actuated from a'position1 of axial alignment withl said 'rstl'and' secondfrods tofa position respectivelyfatangles to the longitudinal first link 'may"4 be i disengaged 'from the recess l-of the'wheel independently of movement-ofthe' second rod land the secondrod may 4be'shifted tofreengage the clutch without impartinglongitudinal shifting movement? to the first rod.

154i For vfuse' with an armature winding L'machine and the-'like, a'turn-fcounting transmission com- Vprising'f a driving shaft,` a driven shaft, optionally engageable clutch forming elements respectively connected to the `driven shaft -andfthe driving shaft, said drivingfshaftiand driven" shafttbe- 'ingconnected 'through' the 'clutch members' when saidfclut'ch members are engaged and being-dis- 'connerte'd"when" the clutch li'nexnbers are-disengaged,A a" 'shifter arm' operativelyv connected y`to oneofsaid-'clutch members for' moving itfinto and out of fengagement with 'the otherfclutch member,- a 'worm pinned yto the 'driven-shafts@ cradle swingably nicunted'in proximate relation to -thewoiim aI 'stub shaftjcurnaledfinfandfcarrie'dfby the cradlafa gear pinned L"to the-stub shaft" in position' for' 'engagement with the worm -when the 'cradle is `swung towardithe driven shaft,

ysaid cradle normally being biased toward a` -posi- .tion awayfromv `sucher'igaged position, locking means for `holding "the cradle int such Iengaged position," afcam-like member pinnedI to the "stud lshaftand'having asingle radial slot, a plunger shiftably *mounted "for movementtoward i and away from the' Cain-like memberialong afpath radial-withrespect thereto and having a tonguelike-element'adapted'for"optional engagementin `the yslotof the foam-like member,v said. lplunger being normally basedt'owardithe 'cam-like member sothat its tongue=like element'will enter'linto and engage the slot whenever the slot is positioned in radial alignment with the tongue-like element, means for connecting the plunger and shifter arm so that the latter is pulled into clutch-disengaged position when the tongue-like element is engaged in the slot and means actuated responsive to movement of the plunger for disengaging the locking means and thereby permitting the cradle to swing away from engaged position as the shifter arm comes into clutch-disengaged position so that as the clutch elements become disengaged the gear and worm will also become disengaged.

5. For use with an armature winding machine and the like, a turn-counting transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft optionally engageable clutch forming elements respectively connected to the driven shaft and the driving shaft, said driving shaft and driven shaft being connected through the clutch members when said clutch members are engaged and being disconnected when the clutch members are disengaged, a shifter arm operatively connected to one of said clutch members for moving it into and out of engagement with the other clutch member, a worm pinned to the driven shaft, a cradle swingably mounted in proximate relation to the worm, a stub shaft journaled in and carried by the cradle, a gear pinned to the stub shaft in position for engagement with the worm when the cradle is swung toward the driven shaft, said cradle normally being biased toward a position away from such engaged position, locking means for holding the cradle in such engaged position, a cam-like member pinned to the stub shaft and having a single radial slot, a plunger shiftably mounted for movement toward and away from the cam-like member along a path radial with respect thereto and having a tongue-like element adapted for optional engagement in the slot of the cam-like member, said plunger being normally biased toward the cam-like member so that its tongue-like element will enter into and engage the slot whenever the slot is positioned in radial alignment with the tongue-like element, means for connecting the plunger and shifter arm so that the latter is pulled into clutchdisengaged position when the tongue-like element is engaged in the slot and means actuated by the plunger for` disengaging the locking means and thereby permitting the cradle to swing away from engaged position as the shifter arm comes into clutch-disengaged position so that as the clutch elements become disengaged the gear and Worm will also become disengaged.

6. For use with an armature winding machine and the like, a turn-counting transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, optionally engageable clutch forming elements respectively connected to the driven shaft and the driving shaft, said driving shaft and driven shaft being 10 connected through the clutch members when said clutch members are engaged and being disconnected when the clutch members are disengaged, a shifter arm operatively connected to one of said clutch members for moving it into and out of engagement with the other clutch member, a worm pinned to the driven shaft, a cradle swingably mounted in proximate relation to the worm, a stub shaft journaled in and carried by the cradle, a gear pinned to the stub shaft in position for engagement with the worm when the cradle is swung toward the driven shaft, said cradle normally being biased toward a position away from such engaged position, locking means for holding the cradle in such engaged position, a cam-like member pinned to the stub shaft and having a single radial slot, a plunger shiftably mounted for movement toward and away from the cam-like member along a path radial with respect thereto and having a tonguelike element adapted for optional engagement in the slot of the cam-like member, said plunger being normally biased toward the cam-like member so that its tongue-like element will enter into and engage the slot whenever the slot is positioned in radial alignment with the tonguelike element, means for connecting the plunger and shifter arm so that the latter is pulled into clutch-disengaged position when the tongue-like element is engaged in the slot, means actuated responsive to movement of the plunger for disengaging the locking means and thereby permitting the cradle to swing away from engaged position as the shifter arm comes into clutch-disengaged position so that as the clutch elements become disengaged the gear and worm will also become disengaged, and a spring operatively connected to the stub shaft and being adapted to be placed under increased tension as the stub shaft is rotated by the driven shaft through the engagement between the worm and gear, said spring being adapted to rotate the shaft in the opposite direction as the cradle swings out of engaged position.

ROBERT L. PROBST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,639,428 Daly Aug. 16, 1927 1,667,070 Jones et al Apr. 24, 1928 2,317,147 Keen et al Apr. 20, 1943 2,334,137 Wagner et al Nov. 9, 1943 2,384,983 Weiss Sept. 18, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 522,843 France Aug. 6, 1921 

